Tundja and Arda

The main problem in the trans-boundary river system is that heavy metal and radioactive pollution can cause long-term effects on ecosystems. Therefore the natural radioactivity and heavy metal levels in the Maritza, Tundja and Arda Rivers, common for Bulgaria and Turkey, were determined for 3 years period (2007-2010). Gross alpha, gross beta and total radium isotopes activities, uranium and heavy metal concentrations of the surface water of the rivers were investigated and also terrestrial gamma and gamma dose rate were measured. The results were compared with reported data from other countries of the world and the recommended international standards. The results gathered in this study may provide background data on the natural radioactive and heavy metal levels of these trans-boundary rivers

Rivers in Turkey

This article represents the first results of the natural radionuclides in the Maritza and Tundja river sediments, in the vicinity of Edirne city, Turkey. The aim of the article is to describe the natural radioactivity concentrations as a baseline for further studies and to obtain the distribution patterns of radioactivity in trans-boundary river sediments of the Maritza and Tundja, which are shared by Turkey, Bulgaria and Greece. Sediment samples were collected during the period of August 2007-April 2010. The riverbank sediment samples were analyzed firstly for their pH, organic matter content and soil texture. The gross alpha/beta and U-238, Th-232 and K-40 activity concentrations were then investigated in the collected sediment samples. The mean and standard error of mean values of gross alpha and gross beta activity concentrations were found as 91 +/- 11, 410 +/- 69 Bq/kg and 86 +/- 11, 583 +/- 109 Bq/kg for the Maritza and Tundja river sediments, respectively. Moreover, the mean and standard error of mean values of U-238, Th-232 and K-40 activity concentrations were determined as 219 +/- 68, 128 +/- 55, 298 +/- 13 and as 186 +/- 98, 121 +/- 68, 222 +/- 30 Bq/kg for the Maritza and Tundja River, respectively. Absorbed dose rates (D) and annual effective dose equivalents have been calculated for each sampling point. The average value of adsorbed dose rate and effective dose equivalent were found as 191 and 169 nGy/h; 2 and 2 mSv/y for the Maritza and the Tundja river sediments, respectively